Dana is a Grade 5 teacher from the Philippines. As the teacher for all of her students' subjects, her days are filled with classes and lectures.
Unluckily, Typhoon Odette has made teaching much more difficult for the educators in her community. After the typhoon, she noticed that her students lost their motivation to learn. Because Odette damaged most of their homes and took away the livelihoods of many families, students had to deal with the effects of the typhoon at home. The storm also damaged classrooms in their school so students could not physically attend their classes for the first few months after the typhoon.
Dana recognized the importance of ensuring that students are able to return to schooling as soon as possible. She also realized that after the typhoon, students needed mental support to deal with the pain they suffered during the natural disaster. “It's important that kids be able to divert their attention from the problems they face at home after Typhoon Odette. When they come to school, they can talk to their classmates, read books, and release some of their stress. They need to feel the love and care of their teachers,”said Dana. Dana and her school were part of Plan International Philippines' Response to Sudden Onset Emergencies. Through the project, the students were able to receive learner kits and hygiene kits which provided them with school supplies and hygiene products that help protect them from diseases. The project was also able to provide their school with a temporary learning space, where Dana and other teachers could give classes while their damaged classrooms were being repaired.
With the learner kits and new classrooms, Dana noticed a change in her students' behaviors. She also saw how the aid her school received brought back the motivation of students to learn.
